Letter: Teachers are vital need

On Aug. 1, The News-Star reported that several local school districts are experiencing a teacher shortage, especially in secondary math and science, which is a problem across our state.

Beyond the immediate concern of having enough teachers to fill these classrooms is a larger problem. Without effective secondary math and science teachers, students will not be fully prepared for college and their careers, which could impact job prospects and Louisiana’s economy.

The solution to this challenge lies in strong partnerships between schools, districts and preparation programs – partnerships in which programs and districts together decide how many and what type of teachers are needed, how and where teachers should gain hands-on student teacher experience and what teachers need to know in order to be successful in the classroom.

The work of those like Whitney Sullivan at the University of Louisiana at Monroe exemplifies this kind of responsive partnership.

The Louisiana Department of Education is supporting district-preparation program partnerships as part of a long-term body of work to strengthen teacher education. Through Believe and Prepare, a program that supports innovation in teacher preparation, LDE invested over $800,000 in pilot programs that ensure districts and programs are creating a strong and balanced teacher workforce.

The seven pilots named in April include Lincoln Parish and Louisiana Tech University. Their work addresses teacher shortages and includes year-long residencies that give aspiring teachers ample time to practice. These pilots began their work this summer and will inform eventual shifts in teacher licensure and preparation policies meant to lead Louisiana’s future teachers to success.

As a graduate of Louisiana schools, the mother of two Louisiana students, and a 14-year veteran teacher, I believe that we owe it to our students to ensure that there are enough effective teachers to fill every classroom to equip them for college, career, and life.